Max Verstappen’s future is back at the top of the agenda at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The noise over the world champion hasn’t been this loud for around a year.
Back then, doubts around Verstappen stemmed from instability at Red Bull. Now, they’re rooted in the car’s disappointing performance.
The Dutchman is only eight points behind Lando Norris in the world championship but has said multiple times that he doesn’t expect to compete for the title. He thinks Red Bull are simply too far behind McLaren.
Amid suggestions that he’s lost long-term faith in Christian Horner’s team, some in the paddock think Verstappen to Aston Martin is a done deal. The Mercedes links won’t go away either.
On the face of it, Toto Wolff has little reason to change his line-up of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. But Verstappen to Mercedes can’t be ruled out given the unique allure of signing the 27-year-old.
Raymond Vermeulen spoke to Alpine’s Oliver Oakes at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
In the run-up to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Sky Germany pundit Ralf Schumacher said Flavio Briatore would ‘do anything’ to sign Verstappen. And he may now have sparked a ‘wild’ rumour in the paddock.
Raymond Vermeulen fuelled it further after cameras picked up his conversation with Oliver Oakes, the Alpine team principal. However, journalist Julianne Cerasoli insists they weren’t talking about Verstappen.
Alpine are currently second from bottom in the standings after failing to score in the first three races. However, they’re switching to Mercedes power in 2026 and Pierre Gasly recently said he can win the world championship next year (via Motorsport).
“Everyone in the paddock seems to have an opinion on what Verstappen should do,” Cerasoli said on the Pit Pass F1 podcast. “There were even some wild talks about Max going to Alpine, Alpine now having the Mercedes engine.
“Raymond, Max’s manager, was seen talking to Ollie Oakes – Alpine’s boss. I was told what they were talking about – I can’t really share it here – but I can say it definitely wasn’t about Max’s future.”
Max Verstappen could leave Red Bull – but rebuff Alpine, Aston Martin and Mercedes
Aston Martin boss Andy Cowell wouldn’t rule out signing Verstappen when he was inevitably asked in the Friday press conference. But this isn’t the optimum moment for a change.
After a grid shake-up last silly season, most drivers have signed multi-year deals. That includes Aston pair Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso.
The Silverstone outfit may be willing to do whatever it takes to bring him in. But even then, there’s the element of uncertainty as to the 2026 pecking order.
As such, Verstappen could take a remarkable sabbatical, according to one figure in his circle. That would allow him to pursue other racing interests (or take a break), and then return to a known quantity.
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